It helps to have:

After you get your tree home, cut off about 1 inch from the bottom of the trunk.

Step-by Step Instructions

1Cut your own tree.The problem with trees bought in Christmas tree lots is that most were cut several days—if not weeks—before they reached the lot. The only way to get a truly fresh tree is to cut it at a Christmas tree farm. Disposable latex gloves will protect your hands from sap and pitch. (If you do get pitch on your hands, apply cooking oil with a paper towel to remove it.)

2Stretch a plastic sandwich bag around the cut end of your tree and fasten it on with a rubber band immediately upon cutting the tree. After you’ve loaded your tree into or onto your vehicle, head home immediately—no stopping for brunch!

3After you get the tree home, lay it on its side and use a tree saw to make a straight cut, removing about 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk. Applying WD-40 to the saw blade before cutting will keep the blade moving freely in the cut.

4Using a 1/2-inch drill bit, drill a hole straight into the bottom of the trunk to receive the spike at the bottom center of the Christmas tree stand. Then drill three or four holes around the edge of the trunk where it will be submerged in water. This will help it absorb the water.

5 Push the stand’s container onto the trunk so that the bottom drill hole sits on the stand’s inner spike; secure the stand in place with a few quick blows of a rubber mallet.

8Immediately fill the container with water and add in a package of tree nutrients for extra longevity (this can be bought at a local nursery and most Christmas tree lots). Adding aspirin to the tree’s water also increases the tree’s ability to absorb nutrients.

9Check the tree’s water at least three times per day for the first few days and then daily. To prevent the base of the tree from sealing up, be sure to keep the container at least half full of water at all times. (You can set short length of PVC pipe into the basin to make it easy to add water without having to crawl under the tree!)

10Place the tree away from heat sources such as registers, vents, and fireplaces to keep its branches from drying out.

Don Vandervort developed his expertise more than 30 years ago as Building Editor for both Sunset Books and Home Magazine. He has written more than 30 home improvement books and countless magazine articles. He appeared regularly on HGTV’s “The Fix,” and served as MSN’s home expert. Don founded HomeTips in 1996.

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